Canakya, Cāṇakya: 5 definitions
Introduction
Canakya means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
Alternative spellings of this word include Chanakya.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaCāṇakya (चाणक्य).—(KAUṬILYA). The famous author of "Arthaśāstra" a treatise on political economy.
Eastern and western scholars have made exhaustive researches on this intellectual giant of ancient India, Cāṇakya. But, nothing definite has yet been established about his time or life. Indians have accepted as a fact the traditional legend that he was a minister of Candragupta, the founder of the Maurya dynasty. It is also firmly believed that it was this mighty intellect of a brahmin who made Candragupta a powerful emperor and steered the ship of his state. The phrase 'Cāṇakya’s kuṭilanīti' (crooked tactics) has become proverbial. Some scholars hold the opinion that he came to be called 'Kauṭilya' because of his Kuṭila (crooked) tactics; but evidence to establish this view-point is yet to be adduced. (See full article at Story of Cāṇakya from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexCāṇakya (चाणक्य).—A Rājarṣi who attained siddhi in śukla tīrtham of the Narmadā.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 192. 14.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Wisdom Library: KathāsaritsāgaraCāṇakya (चाणक्य) is the name of a Brāhman, equal in ability to Bṛhaspati, who became the prime minister of Candragupta’s, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 5.
The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Cāṇakya, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.
Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryCāṇakya (चाणक्य).—Name of a celebrated writer on civil polity; also known as विष्णुगुप्त, कौटिल्य (viṣṇugupta, kauṭilya); see कौटिल्य (kauṭilya).
Derivable forms: cāṇakyaḥ (चाणक्यः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryCāṇakya (चाणक्य).—m.
(-kyaḥ) 1. A name of the sage Vatsyayana. 2. Name of a Brahman, the reputed author of a work on polity, and minister of Chandragupta. n.
(-kyaṃ) The work of Chanakya, detached stanzas original or compiled, on morals and polity. E. caṇaka a saint, and yañ affix of descent. caṇakasya muneḥ gotrāpatyam .
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Canakyacandra, Canakyarotika, Canakyashloka.
Ends with: Vriddhacanakya.
Full-text (+31): Kautilya, Canakyashloka, Vriddhacanakya, Sthulamula, Grihitartha, Adhikarana, Vantana, Samshaya, Niyoga, Ekanta, Vakyashesha, Uhya, Anumata, Apadesha, Atidesha, Vikalpa, Samuccaya, Atikrantavekshana, Dharmadhyaksha, Viparyaya.
Relevant text
Search found 7 books and stories containing Canakya, Cāṇakya; (plurals include: Canakyas, Cāṇakyas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Kautilya Arthashastra (by R. Shamasastry)
Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story) (by Somadeva)
Chapter V < [Book I - Kathāpīṭha]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 14 - Resuscitation of Dead Daityas < [Section 1 - Kedāra-khaṇḍa]
Chapter 40 - The Birth of Mahākāla: The Arrangement of Four Yugas < [Section 2 - Kaumārikā-khaṇḍa]
The Natyashastra (by Bharata-muni)
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 7.43 < [Section IV - Duties of the King]
The Mahavamsa (by Wilhelm Geiger)